“They’ve certainly contributed to both the town and the township financially,”Avramovic told QNet News Wednesday. “But they’ve also been community-minded as well.”

Township clerk Vanessa Latimer said that over the years the casino and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp[6]. – which owned the casino until its sale last month[7] to Great Canadian Gaming, which will also be the operator in Belleville – have made grants to local organizations and non-profits, as well as helped sponsor annual community festivals.

The casino is also a major employer in the area, she said, providing jobs to over 420 people.